From my algorithm and it's not great news.
On the Home-Draw-Away both models select Blackburn with a phi of 0.43 and 0.31. The first one is almost strong enough to trigger a Blackburn win bet, that would be at 0.5+ the 0.31 would put me off though as I like to see some correlation between models. As things stand, the algorithm favours Blackburn, and it does so moderately so.
The goals, underr 2.5 goals have a Phi corrrelation of 0.48 and 0.49 for the two models. Again not enough to trigger a bet under 2.5.
I can see why the algorith favours blackburn. It uses season metrics and the last 8 game metrics. On the last 8 game metrics there is absoloutely nothing to pick between the sides. PPG are 2.35 and 2.5 blackburn and boro respectively. Blackburn have scored 1.375 and conceded just 0.375. Boro have scored 1.25 and conceded just 0.375.
On the season metrics Blackburn fare much betterr than boro with goals per game at 1.63 compared to boro's 1.15. Goals against per game are blackburn 1.11 and 0.93 for boro.
Boo and blackburn have improved defensively massively in the last 8 games, but boro have improved up front, whereas blackburn have gone backwards a bit.
My conclusion is that the game will be below 2.5 goals and boro to shade it in a very tight game 0-1, based on our improvement in front of goal. I think we may have to prepare for a stale game, perhaps staying 0-0 until the second half. We may need to be patient for that breakthrough and defend really well.